Which statement best describes the bonding in a carbon dioxide (CO_2) molecule?

• A. CO_2 contains ionic bonds between carbon and oxygen atoms.
• B. CO_2 contains a triple bond between carbon and one oxygen atom and a single bond with the other.
• C. CO_2 contains two single covalent bonds and two lone pairs on the carbon atom.
• D. CO_2 contains two double covalent bonds between carbon and oxygen atoms.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that carbon dioxide (CO_2) is a molecule composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
2. Understand that bonding in molecules can be ionic or covalent; ionic bonds form between metals and nonmetals through electron transfer, while covalent bonds involve sharing electrons between nonmetals.
3. Recognize that both carbon and oxygen are nonmetals, so the bonds in CO_2 are covalent rather than ionic.
4. Consider the Lewis structure of CO_2: carbon forms double bonds with each oxygen atom to satisfy the octet rule, resulting in two double covalent bonds.
5. Note that the structure does not have a triple bond with one oxygen and a single bond with the other, nor does carbon have lone pairs in CO_2; instead, the molecule is linear with two double bonds.